Pakistan needs $10bn to cope with flood devastation: Ahsen Iqbal

ISLAMABAD 30 Aug (Online): Federal Minsiter for development and planning Ahsen Iqbal said on Tuesday that Pakistan needs $10 billion for renovation and restructuring of flood damaged infrastructure.

World ought to help Pakistan to deal climate change effects, he added.
Talking to the foreign news correspondent he said initial estimate is that the loss is huge which almost $10 billion is and 100 thousand homes has been damaged, people have lost their jobs.

New built up and restoration may take 5 years, he went on, and nation may face food scarcity as the crops were damaged and cattle drowned.

For any formal request of help we have to wait until the final estimate of loss has not been ascertained, he continued, Pakistan is reviewing with the damages with the help of World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

World have the responsibility to help Pakistan to upgrade infrastructure in accordance with the climate change so that we could not suffer this kind of loss after 2,3, 4 or 5 years again, he added.

45% cotton crops has been washed and wheat crops farming has also been affected as the huge part of farms has been submerged in floods while rice, vegetable and fruits crops have been damaged drastically, minister concluded.